Apparatus for working covered-strand material



21, G JOHNSON APPARATUS FOR WORKING COVERED STRAND MATERIAL Filed Oct. 8, 1928 Patented Apr. 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUSTAVE THEODORE JOHNSON, OF IIINSDALE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELEC- TRIO COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK APPARATUS FOR WORKING COVERED-STRAND MATERIAL Application filed October 8, 1928. Serial No. 311,068.

particularly to apparatus for forming and baring insulated electrical conductors of their covering at predetermined intervals and severing the same into desired lengths.

This invention has been found particularly useful in'the forming of interconnecting strap wires or conductors, such as are employed for extending electrical circuits to each relay of a group or st-ripthereof used in the telephone transmission of intelligence. Such a strap wire comprises a predetermined length of insulated wire with spaced, incomplete loops extending from one side thereof at the proper positionwith the insulation at the apex of each loop portion severed and displaced sufficiently along the wire to expose a portion of the wire so that upon interconnecting the several relays the bared or exposed portionsof the wire may be'readily soldered or otherwise connected to the terminals of the relays within the respective groups.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for accurately forming and bearing in afacile manner insulated electrical conductors of their covering at predetermined intervals.

In order to attain this and other objects in accordance with the general features of this invention, an apparatus by means of which the invention may be practiced for forming, displacing. the covering at predetermined intervals, and severing into desired lengths insulated electrical wires or conductors is provided. This apparatus comprises opposed rotary, grooved members for advancing the insulated conductor which is entered therebetween, the members being provided with spaced intermeshing peripheral surfaces. Due to the cooperating pressure and formation of these intermeshing surfaces the conductor during its advancement is formed with spaced, in complete loops and simultaneously therewith theinsulation at the apex of each loop portion is displaced sufficiently to bare a portion of the conductor. The grooves of the rotary members are spanned at one point in their circumference by opposed knife blades for severing the conductor into desired lengths.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will more clearly appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein i Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of an apparatus embodying the features of this invention t Fig. 2 is a side view thereof, partly in secion;

Fig.3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view illustrating in detail one set of the conductor forming and baring peripheral surfaces of the rotary members in intermeshing relation with a conductor therebetween;

Fig. 4 is a detail section on the line 4- -4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a formed and bared conductor as produced by the apparatus of this invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views, there is provided a cup-shaped supporting base 10 within which is journaled a pair of similar intermeshing gears 11 and 12. Attached to the upper surfaces of the gears 11 and 12 are die members 13 and 14 of a similar diameter provided with peripheral grooves 15 positioned on the same plane. A portion of the grooves 15 at either side of a line drawn through the axis of the members 13 and 14 form a channel into which at a point above the line, as viewed in Fig. 1, an insulated conductor 16 is guided by means to be presently described. The distance between the inner surfaces of the grooves 15 where they lie adjacent is slightly less than the diameter of the conductor 16 so that during the rotation of the die members 13 and 14, the grooves 15 cooperate to grip and advance the conductor through the apparatus. The die members 13 and 14. are each provided with peripheral radial intermeshing die portions 19 and 20,

respectively, suitably spaced to provide the l conductor 16 with a predetermined number of incomplete loops or offset portions 21 (Fig. 6).

The cooperating pressure and formation of the die portions 19 and and the clearance therebetween. as they move into and out of intermeshing relation is such that the in sulated conductor 16 during its advancement and simultaneously with the formation of theloopior offset portions21, has the insulationatthe apex of each-loop portion displaced sufficiently to bare a portion of the conductor (Figs. 3 and 6). E'achof the grooves 15 01"- the die members 13 and 14 is spanned at one point in their circumference byo-pposed knife blades 22 whichserveto sever the conductor 1'6finto lengths determinedby the circumfer ence of the die members '13 and 14.

Ahandcrank23is fixed to the die member 1,31and'fit will beapparent thatupon rotation tlireofdueto the intermeshing gearsll and 1 2,, th'ecd'iemember 14v will also be rotated at the same speed; A: stationary guard member 241 is fixedto the baselO and surrounds the greater portion ofthe circumference of each ofthe die members 13 and 14 and extends inwardly a,s hort. distance therefrom. Hinged to the guard member'24 at its upper portion, aswiewedinFig; 1,.is armovable guard which extends abovethe oppositely disposed peripheral portionsofthe die members 18 and 1Lfand1serving with .the guard 24 to-cornpletely guard an operator from the moving die members 13 andltduring. operation of the apparatus' The under surface of the hinged guard 2.5 als.o serves to, guide the conductor 16into the cooperating grooves 15when the endofg the conductor. 16, which may be drawn froma supply. reel. (not shown) is inserted into a guide nozzle 28 and also-upon passing from the apparatus after forming andvbaring, the underv surface offthe hinged guard serves toguide the conductor end-into aguide 29, at the Opposite-side ofthe apparatus. In-

; dices v30 andBLformed upon the die member 13 -iand .,thestationary. guard member 24,,respectively, serve to' facilitate the positioning of; the die members-13 and l iat a starting position wherein the knifeblades 22 are oppositely disposed on aline. coincidingwith theaxes of 'thejdie members (Fig. 1) so that when the conductor 1'6i's first threaded into thejapparatus from-the supplyv thereof (not shown); a, predetermined lengthof the con ductor ijs providedi'at the forward end thereof before the die portions 19 and 20 act to form theoffset portions 21., v

In the operation of the apparatus the in lices30 and 31 arefi'rst aligned as shown in Fig. ,1 for the purpose hereinbefore desGlibEdandi thereafter the end of the. insulated; conductor 16-Jis led from the supply reel (notfshown) and threadedthrough the guide ,28andflintothe channel formed by the opposed peripheral. grooves 15 ofv the, die

' the scope oftlie appended claims.

members 13 and 14:, the end of the conductor coming to a stop againstthe knife blades 22. The hand crank 23 is then rotated clockwise and due to the grip of the opposed grooves 15 formed in the oppositely rotating die members 13 and-14t upon-the-oonduotor 16, it will be advanced longitudinally and. the successively converging sets of intermeshing die portions 19 and 20 will form the spaced offsets or incomplete loop portions 21 and simultaneously with the formation ofeach loop portion due to the pressing of the conductor within the recessed die'portion 20 by the projecting die portion 19 while the conductor is under the tension afforded by the driving grooves v15 the insulation at the apex of. each loop portionisbroken or severed and-then separated or displaced sufficiently along; the conductor-t0 bare a portion-{of the conductor. Upon one complete rotation of the'hand crank 23 theknife blades22convergeto sever the length of. formed and bared conductor fromthe continuous length thereof, the con,- ductor length as it is advanced betweenthe die members: 1 .3.. and. 14;- being guided from the apparatus through theguide 29., Succes; sive rotationsof the .crankf23 produce similarly formed and ,bared. conductor lengthsjas long as a supply of the conductor 16 is, fed

to the guide 28..

It will be apparent thatbyi substituting. other die members '13 and414 withdi'fi'erently spaced or more or lesssetstofr die portions19 and 20 formed therein a wide rangeof dif ferently formed and hatred conductor lengths of the general, type illustrated may. be" produced. In some cases it. may. befdesirable to form certain of the ofisets 21withoutbared portions, in which case the formation of the corresponding sets of die portions 19 and;2O

1 will be such that thesevering and displacing of. the insulation will not occur, as constructing thedie portion 19 so thatit doesnot project so far into the die portion 20as here shown, orpby-making the portionlglt) less pointed or: abrupt. Also, when conductors 16 difieringin diameter are to be WOIl{6d,dl6 members. 19 and 20 having corresponding grooves 15. may. be substituted.

Although the invention as herein. illustrated and described is particularly well adapted for use iniconnection witlitheforming and baring of'insulated electrical. cons ductors it should beunderstood that the novel features thereof are capable offother applications, and should be limited; only by.

What is claimed is 1. In apparatus for. working covered strand, means providedwith aligned. adja cent, grooves for longitudinally advancingv a covered" strand, and means extending'fi'om the plane of and breaking the. continuity; of the grooves, effective at} a predetermined period during the advancementof the strand for forming an offset therein and for baring the strand of its covering along a portion of the offset.

2. In apparatus for working covered strand, means provided with aligned adjacent grooves for longitudinally advancing a covered strand, and means extending from the plane of and breaking the continuity of the grooves and controlled thereby at a predetermined period during the advancement of the strand for forming an offset therein and for baring the strand ofits covering along a portion of the offset.

3. In apparatus for working covered strand, movable means provided with aligned adjacent grooves for longitudinally advancing a covered strand, intermeshing means carried thereby extending from the plane of and breaking the continuity of the grooves and effective at a predetermined period during the advancement of the strand for forming an offset therein and for baring the strand of its covering along a portion of the offset, and means for operating the movable means. 7

4. In apparatus for working covered strand, rotary members provided with aligned adjacent peripheral grooves for longitudinally advancing a covered strand entered therebetween, the members having intermeshing peripheral portions extending from the plane of and breaking the continuity of the grooves for forming an incomplete loop in the strand at a predetermined period during its advancement and for baring the strand of its covering along a portion of the loop, and means for rotating the members.

5. In apparatus for working covered strand, means for longitudinally advancing a covered strand from a continuous length thereof, means effective at a predetermined period during the advancement of the strand for forming an offset therein and for baring the strand of its covering along a portion of the offset, and means for severing a predetermined length of strand with an offset formed therein from the continuous length thereof.

6. In apparatus for Working covered strand, rotary members provided with aligned adjacent peripheral grooves for longitudinally advancing a covered strand entered therebetween from a continuous length thereof, means effective at a predetermined period during the advancement of the strand for forming an offset therein and for baring the strand of its covering along a portion of the offset, means in opposed operative relation within the groove of each rotary member for severing a predetermined length of strand with an offset formed therein from the continuous length thereof, and means for rotating the members.

7. In apparatus for working strand, rotary members provided with aligned adjacent peripheral grooves for longitudinally advancing a strand entered therebetween, means extending from the plane of and breaking the continuity of the grooves effective at a predetermined period during the advancement of the strand for forming an offset therein, and means for rotating the members.

8. In an apparatus for working strand, rotary members provided with aligned adjacent peripheral grooves for longitudinally advancing a strand entered therebetween, intermeshing means carried thereby extending from the plane of and breaking the continuity of the grooves and effective at a predetermined period during the advancement of the strand for forming an offset therein, and means for rotating the members.

9. In an apparatus for working strand, rotary members provided with aligned adjacent peripheral grooves for longitudinally advancing a strand entered therebetween, the members having intermeshing peripheral portions extending at an angle to and breaking the continuity of the grooves for forming an ofli'set in the strand, and means for rotating the members.

10. In an apparatus for working covered strand, means provided with aligned adjacent grooves for longitudinally advancing a covered strand from a continuous length thereof, means extending from the plane of and breaking the continuity of the grooves effective at a predetermined period during the advancement of the strand for forming an offset therein and for baring the strand of its covering along a portion of the offset, and means for severing a predetermined length of strand with an offset formed therein from the continuous length thereof.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 27th day of September, A. D. 1928.

GUSTAVE THEODORE JOHNSON. 

